Macron in India: PM Modi, French President visit Hawa Mahal after holding roadshow in Jaipur

Macron’s India visit: French President Emmanuel Macron acquired a heat welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar on Thursday, on the primary day of his visit to India, as each leaders kicked off a roadshow in the Pink City. Macron has been invited because the Chief Guest of the seventy fifth Republic Day celebrations to be held in the nationwide capital on Friday.

The two leaders warmly greeted one another and posed for the cameras. They proceeded to take a guided tour contained in the Jantar Mantar. Notably, the Jantar Mantar was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in July 2010 and is a proud exhibit of India’s experience and scientific  progress centuries earlier than independence.

The leaders then held a roadshow from Jantar Mantar to Rajasthan’s iconic Hawa Mahal. Macron and PM Modi have been seen greeting the massive numbers of individuals in Jaipur who gave them a rousing welcome. The French President visited the Amber Fort and was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari. 

As the French President walked across the Royal fort and took in the distinctive structure, he was additionally given an summary of the historical past the fort carries. Macron additionally expressed appreciation for Rajasthani portray and artwork and in addition interacted with artists at Amber Fort. He additionally interacted with Indian college students who spoke fluent French.

Macron was acquired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Governor Kalraj Mishra after he arrived in Jaipur. Macron and PM Modi will maintain bilateral talks at Hotel Rambagh Palace in the night. Macron will depart for Delhi at 8:50 pm.

The two leaders can even try to spice up bilateral cooperation in a spread of areas, together with digital area, defence, commerce, clear power, youth exchanges, and easing of visa norms for Indian college students, in keeping with sources. It is predicted that India’s proposed procurement of 26 Rafale-M (marine model) fighter jets and three Scorpene submarines would additionally determine in the talks between PM Modi and Macron, in addition to the state of affairs in the Middle East, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific.

India-France relations on the rise

President Macron can be accompanied by a ministerial delegation comprising Stephane Sejourne (Europe and Foreign Affairs), Sebastien Lecornu (Armed Forces) and Rachida Dati (Culture), a enterprise delegation together with eminent personalities, together with ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, in keeping with a French readout. 

It has been 25 years because the launch of their strategic partnership, and now France and India have launched into new frequent objectives for the following 25 years, the readout stated. “Accordingly, President Macron’s talks with Prime Minister Modi will seek to advance our cooperation and finalise new initiatives under the three pillars of the Roadmap,” the readout stated.

“This visit will seek to advance common initiatives to respond to the key challenges of our times, including climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty eradication, and the changes wrought by new technologies,” it added. A 95-member marching contingent and a 33-member band contingent from France can even participate in the Republic Day parade. 

PM Modi was the visitor of honour on the prestigious Bastille Day Parade in Paris in July final yr. “President Macron’s visit will consolidate the ambitious renewal of the France-India strategic partnership that the two leaders decided on in Paris on July 14 through the ‘Horizon 2047 Roadmap’,” the readout stated.

Notably, that is the sixth time a French chief would be the chief visitor at Republic Day celebrations right here in the nationwide capital. Before Macron, former French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac was the Chief visitor on India’s Republic Day celebrations in 1976 and 1998, as have been former Presidents Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Francois Hollande in the years 1980, 2008 and 2016, respectively.

(with inputs from businesses)

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